MOTU MURDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1922, Page 2

MOTU MURDER

—— — THE TRIAL OF TOPI. 4 u11.; GISBORNE, Alarch 17. In the course of the Alum River murder trial, I’eeti Topi, brother of accused, said there was an arrangement between accused, his father and himself to say Zambukna. .eft their house before the accused. The suggestion to hide their guns and cartridges was made by the accused, as the hearing of the Opotiki ease was against him. An objection to a question as to whether he had since been asked to change his evidence was upheld. AVitness said he told hisj father and another native something he had learned. In goal the accused became very angry, and he (witness) asked to be put m A separate cell. Koopia Eruiti (recalled) said that at the time of the Opotiki preliminary trial, ho went to say goodbye to the accused, who gave him a penny “on account of him murdering the man.” The interpreter explained that the giving of the penny was a sort of religious rite, and the coin would be handed over to the priest ci the Ringatu Church, To His Honour: Accused was a sort of gramlnephew of his,. The penny was given to pay for gt prayer for the accused's soul, or for a prayer to get him out of trouble. AVitness added: “To get him out of trouble.” Sam Topi, accused s father, said Ruteno left the house after Zambukka. AVitness heard somebody say the following Thursday : "Clpan tiie guns and hide the cartridges.’' lie thought it was accused’s voice, but was not sure. The family were now outcasts, not because it was thought accused committed the crime, but because Zambukka was last seen alive at their pah. " TO-DAY’S EVIDENCE. GISBORNE, This Day. The murder trial was resunnd. the first witness to-day beiim Ronald Gordon Saxby, who gave evidence respecting the movements of accused. He denied that he had given a message to ".nybody that the natives should clean their guns. Constable Blackley deposed as to finding the body, the watch a.id chain 1 eing missing, but the bar of the chain left in the waistcoat.